Central Valley Business Incubator

At the American Water Summit held Nov. 14 and 15 in Chicago, Jes Munk Hansen, president of Grundfos North America, assisted the event’s hosts in presenting the inaugural American Water Awards to companies, utilities and projects that implemented smarter models for doing business in the water sector.

Most notably, Hansen honored the City of Fresno, Calif., with an award of distinction for Utility Performer of the Year. Martin Querin, assistant director of the Department of Public Utilities’ Water Division, accepted the award on behalf of the city.

The exchange was especially meaningful because of Grundfos’ history with Fresno, the birthplace of its North American presence. Indeed, ever since Grundfos opened its first U.S. offices there in 1973, the company has been building its relationship with the local public water and wastewater utility.

Never has that partnership been more vital than it is today. Population growth has forced Fresno to triple the amount of water it pumps. Meanwhile, the aquifer beneath California’s central valley is not expected to last another 50 years. So in 2012, the city of Fresno made the bold decision to wean itself off groundwater by switching to surface water for its future supply.

Plans include an expansion of 30 million gallons per day (MGD) to the city’s surface water treatment plant, a new 80 MGD surface water treatment facility, and a $76 million project to install 110,000 automatic meter readers. At the same time the city’s wastewater department has begun a treatment upgrade to the city’s water reclamation plant that will create 25,000 acre feet of reclaimed water by 2025 to offset potable water demand.

While the city took advantage of forward thinking and creativity to confront a growing reality of water scarcity, Grundfos leapt at the opportunity to contribute at its own facility.

A global leader in high-efficiency water technology, the company broke ground on a three-part project to recover and reduce irrigation water at its Fresno facility last summer. The construction of a water-conscious landscape, a natural filtration system and two water detention basins were all part of an effort to boost the city’s groundwater supply by completely eliminating the use of potable water for campus irrigation.

The project is Fresno’s largest scale replacement of traditional landscaping, as well as the first combination of rainwater recovery and groundwater recharge by a private company in cooperation with the City of Fresno.

“Grundfos’ water conservation efforts have provided a mutual benefit in terms of sustainable and economic management of our water resources,” said Querin. “This is a partnership that every city needs.”

When the project is completed in January 2013, Grundfos Fresno will feature a water-wise landscape design that replaces existing plants with species that consume less water and are more appropriate to the area’s demanding climate. The campus originally consumed nearly 6 million gallons of potable water each year. The new design will reduce water demand by more than 83 percent.

“Our work in Fresno demonstrates Grundfos’ commitment to practice what we preach with respect to sustainability and the appropriate use of potable water,” Hansen said.

The water conservation initiative will also include a recovery system to reclaim, treat and reuse rainwater to irrigate the new water-wise landscape. A four-acre water detention basin is planned to collect enough recycled water to support the external water needs of the entire campus – about the size of 21 football fields – without the use of any potable water. Another basin will allow rainwater to seep into the earth and recharge the area’s groundwater supply. To help purify the water prior to entering the detention basins, the architects have designed a natural filtration system called a bio-swale. The plan also includes installing a smart irrigation system that ties into existing Grundfos technology for monitoring and operation.

The aggressive plan bolsters existing sustainability programs already in place at the 180,000 square-foot manufacturing facility, which has already achieved a 30 percent reduction in energy use per unit of output since 2000. Other energy-saving initiatives include the addition of a 1 Megawatt solar array spanning seven acres, use of energy-efficient lighting, air compressors, pumps, fans and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The effort is part of a corporate-wide sustainability initiative that seeks to reduce CO2 emissions, energy consumption and hazardous waste levels.

For more information, visit the website at www.grundfos.us

ABOUT GRUNDFOS:

With an annual production of more than 16 million pumps, Grundfos is a global leader in advanced pump solutions and a trendsetter in water technology. The company specializes in circulator pumps for heating and air conditioning as well as centrifugal pumps for industrial applications, water supply, sewage and dosing. Grundfos also manufactures standard and submersible motors and state-of-the-art electronics for monitoring and controlling pumps.

High on the company’s corporate agenda is an active commitment to improving the environment. Grundfos contributes to global sustainability by pioneering technologies that improve quality of life for people and care for the planet. For more information, visit www.grundfos.us

Central Valley Business Incubator – Small Business Development Center is excited to announce the addition of ten (10) new CVBIOnline “Champion Communities,” thanks to the generous support of PG&E.

This $15,000 PG&E grant supports the launch of CVBIOnline, an innovative and effective online resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners in rural and outlying communities across the Central Valley.  As a “virtual business incubator,” CVBIOnline provides small communities with the tools, resources and benefits of a business incubator without staff and facility costs.

“PG&E just launched CVBIOnline in our service area and are very excited to provide constituents with professional and expert business guidance,” Cam Maloy, Economic Development Specialist with PG&E.  “With each new business launched through the Virtual Incubator Program, PG&E is doing its part to assist the local community grow stronger.

Programs and support available online include a business-readiness assessment, an idea feasibility analysis and a step-by-step business plan development tool.

CVBIOnline in Orosi, through the CSET Program, and the Academy for Civic and Entrepreneurial Leadership (ACEL) in Fresno will be the first CVBIOnline Champions to benefit from the PG&E Grant with more to follow.

A long-time leader in the Central Valley, PG&E continues to demonstrate its commitment to the well-being and sustainability of the community.  Through this grant in support of CVBIOnline, PG&E is supporting businesses and job creation – enhancing the quality of life and retention of knowledge in the San Joaquin Valley.

For more information on this PG&E Grant, or CVBIOnline, contact Chelsi Silva at or email: .  A demo of the program can be seen at www.cvbionline.org, Username: beta1, Password: webuser.

Entrepreneurs and innovators have a passion that cannot be dampened.  Despite being creative and dedicated to the process of business building, successful entrepreneurs are recognized for both what they make and also for what they give.  They inspire, guide and provide opportunity and hope to those who follow the same path. They take an idea from concept to commercialization and create jobs; an opportunity that benefits entire communities.

And, while they are creative, passionate and dedicated, entrepreneurs and innovators never work in a vacuum. They rely on teams of experts and advocates who help shepherd their ideas and ventures. Just as they say, it takes a village to raise a child – so, too, does it take a community to cultivate and foster that culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Here in the Central Valley, we are fortunate to benefit from the vision and achievements of several entrepreneurs and innovators who lead by example; who have committed their efforts and resources to ensure the culture exists here that supports and encourages business success.

The Central Valley Business Incubator – Small Business Development Center(CVBI-SBDC) is honored to recognize two outstanding individuals for their unique contributions to the Central Valley’s innovation and entrepreneurial environment: Dr. John D. Welty, President, Fresno State and Mr. Fred Ruiz, Chair Emeritus, Ruiz Foods.

For his vision and stewardship in developing the idea that economic development through entrepreneurship and innovation can elevate and drive our communities, and also for building the foundation on which the future of the Central Valley can rely for continued growth, CVBI-SBDC is honored to recognize Dr John D. Welty with The Perpetual John D Welty Vision & Stewardship Award.

Since 1991, Fresno State has become recognized as one of the nation’s most engaged universities that has expanded minority enrollment, created an honors college, revised general education requirements, added new academic programs and institutes, and constructed $404.3 million in facilities including a new $102 million library.

Fresno State has introduced service-learning into the curriculum and expanded community service opportunities for students. It has launched a major commitment to expand the use of information technology, and led the effort to build the Save Mart Center, while dramatically increased private fundraising and grant/ contract funding. The university has been actively involved in addressing issues in Central California and engaging itself with the entire region.

Dr. Welty is widely recognized as a driver of entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development in the Central Valley and beyond. Through his efforts the Central Valley Business Incubator, the Regional Jobs Initiative, the Office of Community and Economic Development and dozens of other initiatives and programs designed to harness the innovative spirit of our region were created. His passion and perseverance has driven the many accomplishments of Fresno State.

The Perpetual John D. Welty Vision& Stewardship Award has been created to honor individuals who provide vision, stewardship, tenacity, investment, and belief in the power of entrepreneurs.  They must have charted the course so that others may succeed with stewardship for future success and growth.  This perpetual trophy will be awarded to individuals who demonstrate the kind of leadership that is synonymous with Dr. Welty’s legacy throughout the Central Valley.

Also presented at the Central Valley Stock Exchange is The Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award.  This recognition is presented to an individual who demonstrates the passion to create with a tenacity and talent to turn an idea into a sustainable business. The recipient embodies ambition, creativity, leadership, adaptability, positivity and tenacity. CVBI-SBDC is honored to recognize Fred Ruiz, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Ruiz Foods, Inc. as the 2012 Recipient of the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award.

Fred Ruiz and his father, Louis, founded Ruiz Foods in 1964.  In nearly 50 years, Ruiz Foods has become the largest frozen Mexican food manufacturing company in the United States.  Corporate headquarters are located in Dinuba, California with three manufacturing facilities and two distribution warehouses in California and Texas.

The dream of this father and son team was to establish a company that would generate $3.5 million in sales during their lifetime.  Just a few decades ago, annual sales of their frozen Mexican food products such as burritos, tamales and enchiladas totaled $94 million– a figure has now more than quadrupled.

Ruiz Foods is dedicated to premium quality, authentically prepared frozen foods selling to all channels of distribution:  retail, convenience store, clubs, vending, industrial and food service.  The Tornado brand, introduced just 5 years ago, has revolutionized the use of the roller grill in convenience stores with recent retail introduction. The El Monterey® brand is the market leader within the frozen Mexican food category and as the #1 Brand of frozen Mexican food in the U.S. Ruiz Foods employs over 2,700 Team Members in three facilities throughout the United States.